Whole genomes reveal multiple candidate genes and pathways involved in
the immune response of dolphins to a highly infectious viral disease
Abstract
Wildlife species are challenged and threatened by various infectious
diseases that act as important selective forces and demographic drivers
of populations. Yet, studies about host genetic factors and disease
susceptibility are very limited. Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) has
emerged as a major viral threat to cetacean populations worldwide,
contributing to the death of tens of thousands of individuals of
multiple dolphin and whale species. To understand the genomic basis of
immune responses to CeMV, we generated and analysed whole genomes of 53
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) exposed to
Australia’s largest CeMV-related mortality event known to date. The
genomic dataset consisted of 7,720,686 SNPs anchored onto 23
chromosome-length scaffolds and 77 short scaffolds. Allele frequency
estimates between survivors and non-survivors of the outbreak revealed
11,009 candidate SNPs, of which 498 were annotated to 220 protein coding
genes. These included 36 genes with functions related to innate and
adaptive immune responses, and cytokine signalling pathways. The list
also included genes known to be involved in immune responses to other
morbilliviruses, such as measles in humans and the phocine distemper
virus in pinnipeds. Our study characterised genomic regions and pathways
that likely contribute to CeMV susceptibility and resistance in
dolphins, representing a stride towards clarifying the complex
interactions of the cetacean immune system. It also emphasises the
relevance of whole genome datasets to study the genetics of wildlife
diseases.